Methods are provided for using at least one novel
hepatitis C (“HCV”)
protease inhibitor in combination with at least one antiviral and / or
immunomodulatory agent, which is different from the at least one
HCV protease inhibitor, for treating a wide variety of diseases or disorders associated with
hepatitis C
virus by modulating the activity of
HCV protease (for example HCV NS3 / NS4a
serine protease) and reducing HCV
viral load in a subject in a reduced
treatment period. With the present invention, a
hepatitis C
viral load is reduced in a subject to a concentration of less than 6×10−5 HCV virions per milliliter of
plasma in a time period of less than or equal to about 24 weeks. With the present invention, a
hepatitis C viral production is suppressed with an effectiveness in a range of 0.7 to 0.997.